The detrimental effects of microplastics
Consuming microplastics doesn’t sound good to most people. However, a significant portion of the population remains unaware of the actual health ramifications associated with the ingestion of microplastics.
In essence, when we ingest microplastics, we are also ingesting a cocktail of chemicals such as heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (a toxic compound), and pesticides. Consuming these microplastics can potentially result in detrimental health effects.
iGEM Leiden is dedicated to PHAse Out plastic
The iGEM Leiden 2023 team consists of 13 enthusiastic students from University of Leiden. Coming from various disciplines, the team strives to PHAse Out plastic. With the help of synthetic biology and the biodegradable plastic ‘PHA’, the team has a clear mission: removing all microplastics from our diet.
Biodegradable plastic, PHA, is naturally occurring in bacteria and serves as a form of energy storage, similar to the human body’s storage of excess energy in fat cells. Notably, PHA can be biologically decomposed by bacteria, rendering it environmentally friendly. The incorporation of PHA in agricultural practices holds particular promise as it ensures the absence of microplastics available for plant absorption. This makes it a compelling solution for applications within the agricultural sector.
How can you contribute?
Teams that participate in the global iGEM competition are responsible for their own finances. To secure their participation in this competition and to procure essential laboratory materials, the iGEM Leiden team requires €9800. Will you help them achieve their goal of removing microplastics from our diet and win the 2023 iGEM competition?
The power of time management
As a student-entrepreneur you have to be able to schedule your time right. You will have to balance studies, work and personal life, so you don’t get overwhelmed by responsibility. Use planning tools like Simplicate, Gripp or Monday. Also: don’t underestimate the power of the good old to-do-list!
Workshops & (startup) programs
Do you go to Leiden University and have a greate idea or a passion for being an entrepreneur? You can come to Luris: Knowledge Exchange Office of Leiden Unitversity and the Leiden University Medical Centre. Luris brengt de ondernemende student samen met een breed netwerk van ondernemers en professionele ondersteuners en heeft toegang tot financieringsinstrumenten die speciaal voor deze reden zijn ontwikkeld.
Next to that, at PLNT – the centre for innovation & entrepreneurship – you can join different programs and workshops during your startup-journey. You can boost your entrepreneur-skills by joining (free!) workshops, organised bij PLNT Students. Is your idea solid as a rock? Then you can join program Startup Play, in which you create a business case in three months, whilst learning everything about your target audience. Is your (technological or scientificly based) startup ready to come to market? Than our Venture Academy is perfect for you!
Work together
As an entrepreneur you don’t have to do everything by yourself. Find fellow students or friends with the same interests and start a team. Working together with others can give you new perspectives and skills that you may not have created by yourself. That doesn’t mean you’re co-owners, you can also just motivate eachother.
Do you want to know more about entrepreneurship during your studies and the possibility’s that PLNT has to offer? please contact PLNT without obligation!
What does Hospital Hero do?
Hospital Hero is on a mission to make hospital visits less intimidating for children and parents alike, with their ingenious Hospital Hero app. By transforming hospital experiences into a playful adventure, they’re turning every child into a confident and well-prepared Hospital Hero.
How Hospital Hero unlocked their startup
Charlotte Poot shares her experience about the unlock_ Incubation Program on behalf of Stichting Hospital Hero:
“Participating in the unlock_ Incubation Program has been a true journey that has propelled us forward in a way we had never envisioned. From the very beginning, the program has provided us with the necessary knowledge in business development, market research, intellectual property and entrepreneurship, laying the foundation for a successful business.
The program’s multi-faceted approach, which included masterclasses, tailored advice, mentoring, as well as collaborative sharing of challenges and achievements with fellow startups, has been instrumental in shaping our journey towards success. Being part of this program, alongside other startups has been a remarkable experience. Sharing our challenges and accomplishments created a dynamic ecosystem of support and learning.
Can you tell a little more about the master classes?
“The masterclasses served as a rich source of knowledge and profound insights. Through interesting discussions with well-established entrepreneurs, they delved deeply into the complexities of entrepreneurship, equipping us with indispensable tools and strategies to navigate the challenging startup landscape.”
Why did you choose unlock_ Incubation? What makes this program different from others?
“What truly sets this program apart from other programs is the personalized advice and tailored mentoring we received. The mentoring was tailored to our specific needs and was instrumental in identifying and tackling our blind spots. Their unwavering support, constructive feedback, and willingness to invest their time and expertise in our venture were invaluable. It felt like having a dedicated team of advisors who were genuinely committed to our success.
Our most significant milestone during the program was spinning out from the university. The program provided us with the resources and knowledge necessary to make this leap with confidence. Today, we stand as an independent entity with a clear vision and a solid business plan.
Our participation in the Unlock_incubation program has been a transformative experience and has helped us to create a robust foundation upon which Stichting Hospital Hero now stands. If you have a startup dream, this program is the catalyst that can turn it into a reality.”
Are you ready to unlock_ your startup journey?
unlock_ is where Life Science and Health entrepreneurs, startups and scale-ups in the Netherlands crack open global health problems. At the Leiden Bio Science Park, we provide the startup support, structure, programs, network and the instruments you need to turn an idea into a solution. How can we help you?
Rapidemic is developing a molecular point-of-care test for fast and accurate diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections.
EXIT071 is developing pioneering technology for the analysis of novel biomarkers exosomes. The grant will be used for further development and validation of their innovative technology for exosome isolation and biomarker analysis!
Sencilia is working with nature-inspired flow sensing technology, Sencilia aim to improve patient safety as flow rate errors can be detected accurately and instantly. The grant assists with accelerating the development and validation of their unique IV infusion monitoring flow sensors to improve neonatal and pediatric patient safety in intensive care.
Largest student entrepreneurship awards in The Netherlands
The Philips Innovation Awards is the largest student entrepreneurship awards in the Netherlands, organized by and for students. Over a period of four months, the students develop their idea from a one-pager to a business plan. Students participating receive expert coaching, access to a large network of investors and personal training guidance.
This news item is a copy of the article previously published by the Philips Innovation Award on May 17, 2023.
